Trip overview

You probably knew, that the best place to spot the Aurora Borealis in Finland is in the Northernmost Lapland! The ultimate one-week road trip will take you to the legendary youth center Vasatokka, 300 km beyond the Arctic Circle and up to the shores of the Arctic Ocean!

Highlights of the tour:

Visiting a real snow-castle in Kemi

Meet the real Santa Claus in Rovaniemi

Stay 4 nights in Vasatokka, Inari - 300 km beyond the Arctic Circle

Make a road trip to Norway and swim in the Arctic Ocean!

Enjoy lakeside sauna and arctic swimming every day

Feel the speed of huskies and snowmobiles

Orienteer with snowshoes in the forest and learn to make a campfire without matches

Build your own snow quinzee, try cross country skiing and ice-fishing

Learn about Saami culture and get a reindeer driver’s license

Experience the world’s longest sledding hill in ski resort Saariselkä

Enjoy downhill skiing at cheap student prices!

Customer reviews

Guided activities

NORTHERN LAPLAND - THE BEST PLACE TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTSincluded in the basic fare

Vasatokka is located in the polar region of Scandinavia where the Aurora Borealis is most active. According to the statistics, it is visible 200 days during the active season, from September to April. This means you have an 80% chance of catching it. The only thing that may prevent you from seeing the Northern Lights is cloudy weather. However, the possibility of a cloudless night during your visit is pretty good.

TOUR OF THE ARCTIC OCEANincluded in the base fare // DAY TRIP TO NORWAY

During this guided day bus tour you will learn more about the arctic nature, three sámi cultures and Finnish kven culture located in the Bugoynes village on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. In addition, you will see breathtaking landscapes, have a chance to walk on the shore of the Arctic ocean and even swim there. You have also a possibility to taste a traditional fish soup in local restaurant. The tour is about 550 km in total and takes about 8 hrs.

ARCTIC CHALLENGEincluded in the base fare

In this activity you will learn useful and fun skills how to survive in the Arctic wilderness- quinzee (snow shelter) building, ice fishing and fire making. All activities are organised by professional wilderness guides and instructors.

REINDEER FARMfrom 30€ // DURATION 6hrs // WARM CLOTHING RECOMMENDED

During the visit to the Reindeer Farm, you will get familiar with real Saami people and their reindeers, have a short reindeer sledge ride and learn how to use lasso - lappish style. After all the reindeers are fed, you will go to the cosy Kota to have a tea break and meet the real Saami people!

THE NIGHT SNOWMOBILE SAFARI (FOR BEGINNERS)

from 90€ // DURATION 6hrs // WARM CLOTHING RECOMMENDED

The snowmobiles are a convenient mean of transport beyond the Arctic Circle. Locals use them anywhere from going to a grocery store to paying a visit to a friend who lives behind the hill. Each snowmobile is shared between 2 persons, so both can drive about 45 minutes. The route takes you to hidden places out in the wilderness, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. If you are really lucky you might catch the northern lights in this great place! For people who have adventure in their mind! IMPORTANT: for the snowmobile safari on Vasatokka trips you need to show your driver lincese: original or copy are accepted.

We will gather in the evening to experience snowshoeing - one of the oldest ways to explore the snowy forest of the Arctic region. After a short intoduction you will get to use a GPS device to navigate through the nightly forest. During the short 2-3 km hike in the forest next to Vasatokka you can spot animal tracks and even Northern Lights if you are lucky! In the end you will learn how to make your own fire without matches and celebrate it with a nice BBQ.

THE HUSKY SAFARIfrom 75€

// DURATION 2hrs // CLOTHING IS WEATHER DEPENDING

Siberian huskies and cheerful and strong dogs those really like to pull the sledge! After a short instruction lesson the huskies will take you for a tour through the snowy landscapes. The sledge is shared for two people, each can drive about 20 min. After the safari you will enjoy a warm soup and tea in the base camp.

HALF BOARD from 62€

In Vasatokka you have possiblity to enjoy four buffet breakfast and four buffet dinners during your stay, cooked from local food eg. fish, game and berries etc. Chose this option and you do not need to worry about cooking and you will save a lot of time!

*Kindly note that extra activities can only be booked online up to 8 days before the departure. They cannot be cancelled or changed after the booking.

Preliminary trip program

PLEASE NOTE! THIS ITINERARY IS PRELIMINARY, FINAL ITINERARY WILL BE SENT TO THE PARTICIPANTS 2-3 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE BY EMAIL!

DAY 2 THE KEMI SNOWCASTLE – SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE – ARRIVAL IN LAPLAND

02.45 Departure from Jyväskylä Matkakeskus08.30 Departure from Oulu bus station

08:00 Arrival in Kemi. Free time for shopping and breakfast in the Kemi City market.

10.00 Visiting the Kemi Snowcastle (approx. 1,5 hours)

11.30 Departure from Kemi Snowcastle to Rovaniemi

14:00 Visiting the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. In Santa Claus village you can take pictures with the SANTA, cross the magical Arctic circle, have lunch in one of the restaurants, buy souvenirs, send postcards from the Santa’s official post office and have a lunch (we recommend SHELL gas station across the street). Duration 2,5 h. Departure to Vasatokka at 16.30.

DAY 4 TOUR OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN TO NORWAY - INCLUSIVE

07:30-08:00 Breakfast*

08:00 Bus departure for the fjord trip to Norway! During this tour you will see amazing Arctic scenery and discover how the forests and fells transfer to tundra and mountains the further North you travel. You will learn about the nature, Saami people and make photostops on most beautiful places. Eventually you will arrive to an idyllic fishermen village "Bygones" on the coast of Arctic Ocean. Here you will bath in the sauna and take a bath in a marvellous beach. After swimming you will enjoy a soup lunch, hosted by Norwegian fishermen, those will tell you about the life on the top of the world and about fishing king crabs. On the way back you will make a shopping break and arrive back to Vasatokka by 19.00.

19:00 Dinner*

DAY 5 SAAMI DAY (35EUR: Reindeer farm and Saami museum)

09.00-09:30 Breakfast*

09:30 Departure to the Reindeer Farm*

10:00-12:00 Visiting the reindeer farm hosted by a saami family. After having a reindeer safari you will have a coffee break in a Lappish hut*

12:30-14:00 After reindeer farm, possibility to stay in Inari village and visit the famous SIIDA saami museum.*

14:00-15:00 Shopping stop at K-Market & Souvenir Store*

16:00-18:00 Sports Hall opened for collective games - inclusive

18:00-19:00 Dinner*

DAY 6 SAARISELKÄ DAY – HUSKY SAFARI (75EUR) and DEPARTURE HOME

07.30-08:00 Breakfast*

08:30 Checking Out – Bus Departure to Saariselkä

10:00-12:00 Husky Safari*

12:00-17:00 Possibility for downhill skiing, SPA, shopping. There is time to do all the preferred activities. There are also several shops and restaurants in the territory and free sledging hill.

Dorms with shared facilities

Good to know

Q: ARE THERE ANY MEALS INCLUDED?

A: For self-catering here are basic kitchen facilities in the living room of the cottages and dorms. Kitchens are equipped with plates, glasses, mugs, knives, stove, and fridge.

We recommend doing all the grocery shopping on the way to Lapland, there will be a grocery store stop on the way. You can for instance decide with your cabin mates what you are going to cook together and share the groceries and costs. Please consider, that there are many people who want to cook in the dorms, so please choose something fast to cook. There are no ovens in the accommodation, so don’t buy any groceries such as frozen pizzas, chickens etc. In Kemi or Rovaniemi groceries can be cheaper than in the Southern Finland. In Inari there is also a SIWA and K-market but no ALKO. If you would like to purchase beverages, please do it in Rovaniemi.

There is lunch included in the Arctic Ocean trip.

Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN OR PLANE?

A: The night train option is convenient only if you can afford to book a sleeping compartment, which is quite expensive. Travelling in a seat on the train is less comfortable and less convenient than travelling by overnight bus, because lights are on all the time and every station is called in the loudspeakers. If you want to travel by train or plane individually, our bus can pick you up (according to the itinerary) from Oulu, Rovaniemi and Ivalo airports.

Q: WE ARE A GROUP OF 8 PEOPLE. CAN WE STAY IN THE SAME APARTMENT/COTTAGE? SHOULD WE BOOK THE TRIP TOGETHER?

A: We understand perfectly, that it is important to stay with your friends and all rooming preferences will be taken into consideration. It is not necessary to book a trip together, but you need to book the same accommodation category in order to stay in the same apartment or cottage. About a week before departure, everyone who has signed up for the trip will receive an email containing a cabin sign-up document where you can choose the cabin / apartment and the room mates. If you don’t receive this email, please check your spam folder, ask your friends to share it with you or contact our Customer Service Team.

Q: DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING WITH ME?

A: You should bring the following at least:

Warm clothes (clothes can also be rented: overall at 7€/trip, jacket and trouser eachone at 3€/day or 6€/trip, warm boots at 6€/trip, gloves and hat 2€/day)Bed linen or sleeping bag (bed linen is not included, but it can be rented from the reception at €8/trip)Swim suit and towel (unless you want to do it the Finnish way)Anything else you may need during the trip: cash, credit card, medicine, etc.Student card for discountsA small pillow or a special neck cushion for the bus tripFlip flops for Arctic swimming and jumping in the snow after saunaQ: What if there is no snow?

A: The reason we use North Lapland as the location of our main destinations is that plenty of snow is virtually guaranteed from the beginning of November. However, we cannot control the weather. So, in the unlikely event that the snow is not deep enough for certain activities, we will offer an alternative or a full refund for the cancelled activities.

Q: WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAND IN OUR CREDIT CARDS AT THE START OF THE SNOW MOBILE SAFARI?

A: The company that organises the snowmobile safaris now requires participants to leave their credit card as a deposit. They kindly remind you that crashing a snowmobile into a tree is not only dangerous but also expensive and can result in the organisers having to pay a minimum of 900 €. If you follow your guide’s instructions and stick with the group, these accidents are easily avoided. The safari organiser will collect credit cards at the start of the activity and return them as soon as the tour is over.

Q: SHOULD I GO TO LAPLAND IN FALL OR SPRING SEMESTER?

A: Spring semester is of course more fun because there is more snow and more sunlight. Due to its popularity, the spring semester is slightly more expensive. If you have the choice, we recommend you travel in February, March or early April. During the fall semester there may be less snow. Additionally, the shorter periods of daylight impose certain restrictions on the schedule such as having to get up early in the morning.

Q: IS THERE A WIFI IN THE COTTAGES?

A: There is a Wi-Fi connection and one free client computer in the Vasatokka main building. Please note, however, that although there is no Wi-Fi or Internet in the cottages, some of the closer dorm rooms may catch the Wi-Fi signal from the main building.

1. All mobile phones work normally in Lapland2. There is all kitchen equipment, forks, knives etc. in the cabins as well as toilet paper, soap, dishing liquids etc.3. Buy ONLY groceries, salt, sugar, spices, but not frozen pizzas or anything which requires an oven!4. Best place to do shopping is in Rovaniemi or Kemi (on outward journey) - There will be City Market and Alko. In Vasatokka there are no shops around, the closest shop is in Inari about 10km away from the Vasatokka youth center.5. Prepaid activities are considered as tour package so there are no partial refunds, if you have changed your mind! You can still sell your place for some of the activities to someone else.6. If something goes wrong, immediately contact the Timetravels Tour Leader(s). They will do all their best to solve your matter!7. The bus trip will be overnight from Helsinki to Lapland, so we recommend taking a sleeping pillow with you.

Thanks to its northerly location on high ground, Saariselkä is the most snow-secure of all Finnish ski resorts. The snow often starts falling here as early as October. Despite this, local snowfall and global climate change are beyond our control, which is why we cannot give a 100% snow guarantee. A complete lack of snow is highly unlikely (it hasn’t happened in recorded history), but on rare occasions the snow may not be deep enough for certain activities to take place. In such cases, you will have the option of an alternative activity or a full refunded for the one that is cancelled. Whatever the snow situation, Lapland is always well-worth the trip!

Timetravels reserve the right to changes. The itinerary is provisional. The final itinerary will be sent to you a few days before departure, as some activities dependent on prevailing weather conditions.